Senior Living after RVing

[srbbear]

Wow, I thought I was kinda the only one worrying about the "what happens later" thing.

I think since I have been taking care of my mom with Alzheimer's, it has been on my mind more than usual. Its really freaking me out lately! I have 2 kids that live out of state that I know would be there to take care of me, but who wants to put the burden on them. As I see what it takes to care for mom, I don't want to put my kids through that! I also don't want them to spend their years after their kids are grown and gone, when they should be out enjoying their lives, stuck at home taking care of me. And honestly, there are things I don't want my kids to have to do for me....its not pretty.

Then I have the concern of...do I sell the house when I decide to hit the road? I look at this place and imagine how hard it will be to take care of later. I think the only thing that scares me is if I need it for a home base because of what....medical reasons? Honestly would rather just sell the house and live in an RV, even if I am not on the road all the time, I loved staying in the campground I was at years ago. Had a travel trailer set up on a lot.....I miss that thing! Easy to take care of, just the right size (32 ft), nice campfire every night! Ahhhhh, that was the good life!

The long term insurance is a good idea, I have been thinking of that a lot lately. Wonder how expensive that stuff is?
Its would be just me....and my catdog. lol Born a little defenseless kitty that someone threw out their car window....named him Little Bit.....grew into the size of a dog! (not kidding) He is my buddy and confidant LOL.

Guess its good to hear others thoughts on the subject. An RV retirement community would be great!!!!!

[AlmostThere]

No one knows what tomorrow will bring. We are always of the mindset that our days will be plenty, and I hope that's true, but I like the peace of knowing I have a plan in place either way.

Not all LTC plans are equal, like any insurance. You choose the one that best fits your needs/wants and affordability.

[grammynmaggie]

well my vote is for the Women RV retirement resort...wouldn't that be
great...I pray to God that he keeps me in good health so that I can take
care of myself in my senior years...I know this can only be done thru Him..
as far as nursing home or assist care..i see the # $3500.00 in the post ..that is
twice the amount I get with SS and small pension.. it looks like that will
never be an option for me..if it comes down to it...would
have to live close to one of my kids ...but would NOT want to live with them..I lived
alone for more than 35 years...after my kids grew up....now living with my dad..is very
hard for me and him...so I know I don't want to burden my kids...so a the Women RV
resort sounds wonderful...maybe we could find a good campground and invade it..lol
donna

[BirdbyBird]

I don't remember if I mentioned it but when I was in Montana I passed an Assisted Living RV Park....so apparently they aren't just in TX and FL....:=)

[Redwahine]

This is a subject that haunts me regularly. Took care of aging relatives in various scenarios. Similar to those shared in this thread so far. I like the idea of going quick and while doing something you love. But, like also expressed on the thread, we don't get to choose our final exit. All we can do is live the best we can with what we've got until our name is called home.

Since the first posting of this subject I've been looking around online. A little Serendipity !? I was looking at adds and saw this one. This could be fun for several RVers.

Own your Texas Hill Country “winter site” or Home Base with plenty of parking and storage area.

FOR SALE: 1.1 acre, level RV lot in Texas Hill Country gated sub-division. Fully developed with electric, city water, and conventional septic system. Elevation 1377 feet. Four RV sites with Full hook ups and a 2 story cabin and a separate workshop.

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=104538

[Azusateach]

Mitch, have you ever, really seriously, given thought to putting several pads with hook-ups on your property?

Laura

Waaaaaay, too expensive!
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10720&hilit=Gravel

(Yes, I searched Mitch's posts for the word gravel...
usually it's the word trash, for her cooking experiments! )

Vickie, I wasn't suggesting that Mitch foot the bill for this. Guess my question was more along the line of whether she'd ever consider "parceling" her property out so that people could buy into something like a little group RV home. Don't know how it could be done, with her owning the property. But that's what I was thinking about.

Laura

[mitch5252]

...Guess my question was more along the line of whether she'd ever consider "parceling" her property out so that people could buy into something like a little group RV home.

..
I could never sell parts of my 30 acres...I have control issues!
And man, that could get messy as folks start to die off...

I still wish it wasn't so darned expensive to put in a pad or two.
..

[srbbear]

Well ladies, best thing to do would be keep our keep our eyes and ears open to any locations we run across that would have places to park our butts when the time comes. I would think with the baby boomers that will be on the road during their so called golden years, some genius would see this as a perfect opportunity to start setting up retirement RV parks! Now just as long as that genius doesn't think we all retired rich! lol

This is a great place to post findings, and share ideas, since so many of us have the same thoughts burning in the backs of our minds.

Wow, just thought, imagine the money some geriatric doctor could make by opening an rv park for grounded retirees.....and having his own office on wheels! lol

[carolb]

WOW I'm loving this (thanks, Irmi, for bringing it to my attention!) Okay, the only "worry" or "fear" I would have about this is if we WERE NOT TALKING about it. Isn't this "the conversation" that the aging are to have with their children? And aren't there so many of us who don't have children or have "various" relationships with their children? We are the "boomers"--didn't we start movements of all kinds? Why not start this movement! Discussion, planning, brainstorming--does not equal "worry"! It's OPPORTUNITY! Wasn't it "an opportunity" to start a "women's forum" in the first place? To bring us together in cyberspace, along the road?? So why not bring us together "after the road"???
We're entering new territory, right? Seems like the next logical step

I do like the idea of having "women" (or bring your DH ) rv retirement parks! Yep, get those geriatric drs in the circuit, get lotsa Pedros to help. And I see lotsa pockets of us in different parts of the country--FL, TX, CA (the Slabs ), AZ, AL, LA or anywhere! Perhaps this is how Escapees started??

As for small rigs, my idea is to be somewhere with ideal weather so I don't have to be in it except for sleep, "daily hygiene," & cooking. Oh, how glorious! And of course, an enclosed dog park for our poopers to run if we can't walk them anymore

Great thread! Thanks for starting it Liz!!!

[BirdbyBird]

I think that some of the over 55 RV parks in Florida that lease or sell lots fulfill this for many. The trade their wheels for a Park Model and keep trucking along. You find a very wide age span..... I think the trick is that each of us, besides difference in financial options have very different ideas of what sort of weather we want to tolerate. Florida is so delightful in the winter but I am not sure hoe long it would take my body to adjust to the other 9 months of heat and humidity? I expect also we have different tolerances for how far off the beaten track we are. Do we want folks to find our body in the house in the middle of town or in the cabin 25 miles out with the beautiful vista.....

[Bethers]

I think that some of the over 55 RV parks in Florida that lease or sell lots fulfill this for many. The trade their wheels for a Park Model and keep trucking along. You find a very wide age span..... I think the trick is that each of us, besides difference in financial options have very different ideas of what sort of weather we want to tolerate. Florida is so delightful in the winter but I am not sure hoe long it would take my body to adjust to the other 9 months of heat and humidity? I expect also we have different tolerances for how far off the beaten track we are. Do we want folks to find our body in the house in the middle of town or in the cabin 25 miles out with the beautiful vista.....

Not just Florida, but pretty much all the 55 plus parks. They have the activities, etc. Most don't have the assisted living part, but almost all are in areas with good doctors, etc. And almost all of them see a couple of their rvers or park model family die every year.

[Olive600]

This thread reminded me of this TED talk. I watched it awhile ago.

http://www.ted.com/talks/judy_macdonald ... _life.html

[Excel]

Thank you for this video.... sure gives a lot to think about. Makes the idea of 'I'll deal with this tomorrow/next week/next year', etc. kind of impractical... or just not wanting to face reality... I have to think about those 5 steps & start putting them in action, not only for me but for others that might be making my decisions for me.... Lots to consider... If you haven't watched it, do yourself a favor......... watch it.

[grammynmaggie]

I don't think I could afford the 55+ parks
I know I could never get a park model
donna

[Bethers]

I don't think I could afford the 55+ parks
I know I could never get a park model
donna

Donna, I've seen some with rates under $400 a month. They aren't all unaffordable. And while I'd not get a park model for several reasons, I've seen some at rates even under $20K - and in good condition. Never say never lol

By the way, someone mentioned how expensive hospice was. That's not my experience. Hospice was free for my Mom (might have been paid by Medicaid) and for my mother-in-law - totally separate and different hospice services. Now, they are not all the same, but both were excellent and provided much help that we needed for both when their times were near. In fact, my Mom had hospice care for almost 4 years.